Category Archives: WIPs

Mother’s Day Cast On

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In addition to a nice Mother’s Day celebration, Jellybean and the Hubby gave me a little breathing space to knit!

I had pulled my skein of KnitCircus Trampoline in the Needle in a Haystack impressionist gradient from my stash. I had a TON of pattern indecision on this one. I wanted a single skein shawl to show off the hand painted yarn but I also needed it be to be simple and beautiful. I finally settled on Antarktis by Janina Kallio. Several other knitters have used similar Knitcircus yarns for this pattern with great results!

In a single day I managed to get through four pattern sections! This pattern uses garter sections, eyelet stripes and eyelet mesh for a beautiful asymmetric triangle shape. Given the state of my brain, I went ahead and threaded in a lifeline after the eyelet lace section…just in case. And then I had Jellybean take a photo with me and my Mother’s Day project for posterity.

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He really needed the skeleton army guy with the ax to be in the photo too. Please excuse the crazed look on my face I was trying not to bust up laughing. But he loves “mommy’s knitting” and this is definitely one memory I won’t forget!

Happy Knitting!!

It’s An Electric HO

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I don’t have any FOs this week, but I do have a HO! My first Electric Mayhem sock is completed. Okay, the tube is done and it still needs a heel in full disclosure. But that’s just a minor detail right?

But LOOK HOW PRETTY THIS IS!! I bow down to the prowess of indie dyers who can self-stripe and make gradients. This is a KnitCircus yarn for those who are curious. And I purchased a 75 gram set so I would make a me sized sock without wasting a precious inch of the wonderful color.

Jellybean is currently hunting Storm Troopers in the backyard before daycare. And so I treated myself to coffee and casting on the second sock on the back patio. Don’t you just love when your baby bump and knitting coordinate?

Happy Knitting!!

A New Bag

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My memory sock yarn blanket had been living in the plastic packaging that some sheets had come in. At first I was happy with the see-through plastic bag that kept things nice and tidy with a zippered closure. But the bag now has seen better days and the blanket has grown to size that it doesn’t fit inside the bag with the scrap anymore.

So in a hormone fueled Etsy shopping incident, I may have procured a large project bag from Bags by Awesome Granny.

I went with a donut print and that may have been influenced by the never ending hunger that PB has foisted upon me as she packs on those last few baby ounces. But I think it’s pretty darn adorable regardless. And the pink lining makes me happy because who doesn’t love pink polka dots?

My folded blanket and scraps fit nicely inside, for now. This bag won’t see the project through to the end but it’s a 1,000% improvement from what I had. My blanket and scraps are both now safe from sticky three year old fingers. And the craftsmanship by Darlene is impeccable. This bag will hold many a project I’m sure in it’s tenure with me!

Do you have a bag maker that you discovered and loved?

These Socks Are Electric

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My Electric Mayhem Socks are just downright addictive….

I have cruised through three of the five color changes and only have a teeny bit of yarn left. I find myself thinking, I’ll just get to the next color and then I can’t quit. This yarn just makes you look like a knitting genius and absolutely baffles the muggles. Not to mention it helps this knitter get through some interminable meetings and webinars.

I only have a few grams of yarn left. I think the plan will be to finish the green section in stockinette and when I hit the yellow I’ll switch to 2×2 ribbing for the cuff. As I said before, I’m just knitting a tube until I run out of yarn and I’ll just cut in an afterthought heel when it’s all said and done. Easy peasey and no complex thinking required….just what the knitting doctor ordered!

Happy Knitting!!

Nesting….Knitting Style

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So PB’s arrival marches ever closer. And while we are not ready because why would we need the bassinet assembled, the car seat installed, or meals in the freezer? But I do have my hospital bag is packed and you guys…..I may have included a (wishful thinking) project in there.

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I have been lusting after the Thotful Spot Hat by Sarah Schira for awhile. And the speckled DK skein from Potion Yarns has been calling my name since Knitting in the Heartland. In a fit of nesting I pulled out some needles, the yarn, printed pattern and a brand spanking new project bag…..and I cast on and established the brim pattern. And then promptly tucked the whole shebang into my suitcase.

I realistically may never touch it during my hospital stay. (I will have a guaranteed three night stay thanks to a c-section so it is a possibility.) But part of me feels reassured that if need be I will have pretty yarn and an easy project if I get the knitting itch. Maybe that is it’s point? To be a source of comfort and mental focal point during a time of joyous yet monumental change….just waiting in case it’s needed from inside a cheerful project bag. Only time will tell!

Happy Knitting!!!

Cast On: Electric Mayhem Socks

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My flow of webex meetings and conference calls is not slowing down anytime soon. So I know I needed more purse/backpack knitting after having empty sock needles. And because I have been storing up a well curated stash…I know I could just go shopping through my lovelies!

Because of my baby brain and current complete lack of energy I knew the perfect sock skein to grab. And by perfect, I mean already caked up in a matching set….no winding up required! This is my Electric Mayem color from KnitCircus Yarn on their Greatest of Ease base. Literally I only had to grab a project bag and some empty needles.

I hope to get these cast on today during my webinar. My plan is to get started on a 68 stitch toe-up vanilla sock and knit the tube until I run out of yarn. This is their 75 gram set  so that should be just about the right amount of yarn for my size socks while not having to stop before the gradient is done. I will use my big box store workhorse yarn to put in afterthought heels in a solid black.

This is one yarn I’m not concerned about saving scraps for my memory blanket. I want to get every bit of delicious color gradient into the sock. I am so giddy to get these going and watch those electric colors transition!

Happy Knitting!!

The Memory Blanket Rides Again

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While waiting for inspiration to strike….I pulled out my trusty memory blanket!

This just makes me so happy! I’m two squares away from squaring this off again. I don’t even care how hot this is on my lap while I knit, that’s how much I love this!

I did fall down the Etsy hole and may or may not have ordered a large project bag to contain this beast. Right now it lives in a plastic sheet set bag with the zipper that’s wearing out. I feel like something this beautiful deserves proper storage! I’ll share my bag once it gets here….teeehee….

Happy Knitting!!

Drunken Watermelon Heel

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I managed to meet my goal of working through the Drunken Watermelon heel yesterday!

I do admit this was quite a bit of knitting for me, especially given I am working a 72 stitch sock and gusset increases can feel like FOREVER.  But I’m pleased with my progress and gusset heels just fit me so nicely. Now I only have 13 pattern repeats or 52 rows of leg knitting to get to the ribbing.

Not going to lie, the weather is improving in Kansas and between conference calls and outside playtime for Jellybean……I’m interested to see how far I can get today and tomorrow on this….

Dare I dream that these are a FO by the weekend?

 

WIP Wednesday: Drunken Watermelon Socks

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In a fit of pregnancy nesting I have been steaming through some of my languishing WIPs in my UFO bin. This week’s project is my Drunken Watermelon socks.

Last I shared about this project I was at the progress keeper shown hanging out at the toe. And for this week’s webex and webinar craziness, I worked on this project. I mean it’s just criminal to let Miss Babs yarn sit hibernating for almost a year!

I cruised through the rest of the foot and started the gusset increases. I have set a personal goal to get through the heel by tomorrow. The good news is that I have the first sock to compare to and it’s easy to count my rows/stitches so that I can make equal sized socks!

Now The Toes

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My web-ex and conference call work time continues apace. I literally spent all day yesterday and will have many hours today in meetings. The silver lining….I have one of my Smooth Operator Socks almost to the toe!

(Dex and I enjoyed some quiet time this morning before everyone else woke up this morning.) I’m really hoping to get the second sock to this point today and work on toe decreases! I only need a nine inch foot to fit my tootsies.

And because I’m working cuff-down, I used my Soxyzz ruler to measure my progress! The ruler fit nicely into the heel and tells me exactly where I am. I was suitably pleased and it was much easier than managing the sock with a traditional tape measure.

Wish me luck today….happy knitting!!